You loved seeing all the amazingly strong (and completely nude!) athletes in the ESPN's 2016 Body Issue, and in case you wanted a closer look at Jake Arietta pitching naked, this video of his bulging quads and defined abs definitely helps you celebrate the Cubs winning the Word Series — their first win in 108 years!  Wait, watch one more time.  You're beginning to understand the nuances of pitching ...

If you're here for abs, you've come to the right place;  we have over two dozen different ab workouts, perfect for targeting your core and flattening your belly.  Build a strong body, starting right at the middle, with routines as short as two minutes! Choose the best workout for you, whether it's bodyweight only, uses some dumbbells, or mixes in some yoga or cardio.

 

10-Minute At-Home Ab Workout

 

5-Minute Lower-Ab Workout

 

5-Minute Flat-Ab Yoga

 

7-Minute Ab Workout With Cassey Ho

 

20-Minute Oblique Workout

 

20-Minute Flat-Belly Workout

 

5-Minute Standing Ab Workout

 

20-Minute Ab and Butt Workout

 

Bodyweight Core Workout

 

2-Minute Pilates Ab Workout

 

5-Move Bodyweight Ab Workout

 

5-Minute Standing Ab Workout With Weights

 

9-Move Ab Workout

 

At-Home Megaformer Pilates Ab Workout

 

5-Minute Bodyweight Ab Workout

 

On-the-Floor Ab Workout

 

At-Home 6-Move Ab Workout

 

10-Minute Weighted Ab Workout

 

10-Minute Barre Workout For Abs

 

Crunch-Free 5-Minute Ab Workout

 

3-Minute Plank Workout

 

10-Minute Bodyweight Ab Workout

 

No-Equipment Flat-Belly Workout

 

Yoga Core Workout

 

5-Minute Morning Ab Workout

 

Show us a beautiful new Adidas shoe and we're sold.  Show us a beautiful new Adidas shoe that's also made from "up-cycled marine plastic waste" to cut down on environmental pollution and we're doubly sold.

The Adidas UltraBOOST Uncaged x Parley — available mid-November, retailing at $220 — is as stunning and stylish as it is great for the environment (bonus: the UltraBOOST style is incredibly comfortable for running, and an editor favourite!).  The entirety of the Parley model in particular is made of recycled materials, as noted in a press release, with a "knitted upper created with 95-percent Ocean Plastic and 5-percent recycled polyester.  The laces, heel cap base material, heel webbing, heel lining and the sock-liner cover are made of recycled materials."

Here's why the ocean plastic thing is so important: our waste is getting dumped in the ocean, the fish in the ocean eat the trash, and we eat the fish ... so as the video (below) says, we're literally eating our own garbage.  What's more, it's killing sea life and destroying the ecosystems.  According to sustainablecommunication.com, 14 billion pounds of trash are dumped into our oceans yearly.  ScienceMag.org reported that "about 4 million to 12 million metric tons of plastic washed offshore in 2010 alone".  So ... from what it sounds like, Adidas has a lot to work with, and they're off to a great start cleaning up the planet, one pair of gorgeous sneakers at a time.

 

The UltraBOOST Uncaged x Parley is super sustainable, super stylish, and super supportive for your running ... meaning everyone's going to want one of these.  You'll have to be strategic, because only 7,000 pairs will be available.  So of course we already signed up to get notified when they're available to buy (go on ... get on it!).

 

Finally!  A killer cardio workout you can do in your living room.  Part of our No-Excuses Workout Challenge, this is cardio you can do anywhere.  It's perfect for torching calories without having to go for a run.

 

Here's the workout to follow!  But do scroll down further for detailed explanations of each exercise.

 

Cross Jack

• Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, and extend your arms straight out to either side with palms facing down.
• Jump and cross your right arm over your left and your right foot over your left.  Jump your legs to the sides and open your arms, then cross with the opposite arm and foot.

 

Alternating Back Lunge

• Stand with your feet in parallel and arms by your sides.  Take a large step backward with your right leg coming into a lunge, with both knees bent to 90 degrees, while lifting your arms to shoulder height and pulling your elbows back.
• Your front knee should not go beyond your toes.
• Push your left heel into the ground as you step your right foot back to parallel.  Then repeat stepping back with the left leg.

 

Hopscotch

• Bouncing off the balls of your feet, jump your feet wide.
• Hop back to center on your left foot, then jump your feet wide.
• Hop back to center on your right foot, and continue alternating in this pattern.

 

Windmill Lunge

• Step out to the right with your right leg coming into a narrow side lunge.
• Twist your torso to the right, bringing your left hand to your right foot.
• Push off your right foot to return to standing upright, then repeat twisting to the other side.

 

Frogger

• Start in a plank position.
• Jump your feet lightly toward your hands, bringing your knees to just above your elbows.  Pull your navel to your spine to engage your abs.
• Jump your feet back to plank position, landing as softly as possible.

 

Knees and Toes

• Start with two high knees, bringing your right knee to your left hand, then your left knee to your right hand.
• Now rotate your right knee slightly outward to bring your right ankle to your left hand, then your left ankle to your right hand.
• Continue in this alternating pattern.

 

Under the Fence

• Start standing on the right edge with your weight on your right foot.  Take a large step to the left with your left foot, crouching as if you are going under a bar that is waist high.
• Transfer your weight onto your left foot as you move sideways, and come to standing on your left leg at the left side of your mat.
• Reverse directions, moving back to the right.

 

Plank Jack

• Start in a plank position with your feet almost touching.
• Keeping your torso as level as possible, jump your feet wide like a jumping jack.  Then jump your legs back together.
• Continue repeating this pattern.

 

Walking Hamstring

• Standing on your left leg, as you step onto your right heel with a flexed foot, reach your right hand down to touch your right toes.  This will give you an active stretch for the back of your right leg.
• Step onto your right foot, and come to standing.  Repeat on the other side, and continue in this walking pattern.

 

Power Skip

• Step onto your right foot and hop into the air, raising your left knee and punching your right arm into the air.
• Land on your right foot, then step onto your left to hop, bringing your right knee up and punching with your left arm.  Continue skipping in this pattern.
• This is a slow, kind of lumbering skip, to really focus on hopping off and landing on the same foot.

Nothing beats Tabata workouts for maximizing the benefits of a workout.  This interval training helps burn calories and build muscle in 20 minutes.  For the four-minute Tabata round, we mix two complementary exercises, so you can go strong and maintain good form for all your reps.

 

Here's the workout and directions.  Keep scrolling for explanations on the moves.

 

Tabata One:  Lateral High-Knee Run and Hold

• Start at one edge of your mat and run from side to side on your bringing your knees hight to waist level.  Engage your abs as the knee comes up.
• Make as many steps to the side as you can before switching sides.
• Pump your arms to work your upper body.

 

Tabata One:  Ali Shuffle

• Keeping your weight on the balls of your feet, scissors your legs front and back.
• This is quick footwork and it should be light.  Pump your arms to keep the speed of the feet up tempo.

 

Tabata Two:  Burpee

• Jump up as high as you can, and land softly lowering into a crouching squat with your hands on the floor.
• Jump your feet backward coming into a plank position.
• Jump the feet forward to the hands, coming into a deep squat, and prepare to jump.  Continue in this pattern.

 

Tabata Two:  Chaturanga Push-Up

• Start in a plank position with your hands directly under your shoulders.
• Push forward with your toes keeping your arms parallel and hugging your torso, bend your elbows to 90 degrees.  Your upper arm should be parallel to the floor with your elbows over your wrists.
• Engage your abs to keep your torso stable as you straighten your elbows to push yourself up, returning to the plank.

 

Tabarta Three:  Alternating Side Lunge

• Start with your feet directly under your hips.  Step your right foot wide to the side coming into a lunge.  Your right knee shouldn't go beyond your right toes.  Keep your chest lifted and your weight in your heels.
• Push into your right foot to return to standing, then lunge sideways to the left.

 

Breakdancer Kick

• Start on all fours, then lift your knees to hover over the floor.
• Lift your left hand and your right foot off the floor then, then pivot on your left foot to the left kicking your right leg through bringing your left arm to your chest.
• Swing your pelvis back and place your left hand on the floor and your right toes, returning to the hover position.  Reverse directions kicking the left leg to the opposite side.

 

Cooldown:  Trunk Twist

Reps:  20, alternating sides

• Lying on your back, extend your arms out to your side, to create an anchor.  Lift your legs so your hips and knees are at 90 degree angles.
• Starting the movement from your core, rotate your knees to the left, hovering just off the floor.  Hold for this position for three seconds.  This completes one rep.  Then, initiating the movement with your abs, slowly rotate your knees to the right.

 

Cooldowns:  Straight-Leg Roll-Up

Reps:  12

• Begin on your back with your legs straight and arms reaching overhead.
• Lift your head and arms off the floor and begin to roll up to sitting, focusing on the abs rounding the back and keeping the motion smooth.
• Roll back down to the mat slowly, one vertebra at a time.  Ending by reaching your arms overhead to complete one rep.

 

Cooldown:  Pilates Swimming

Reps:  20, alternating sides

• Lie on your stomach with your arms reaching overhead, pulling your abs away from the floor to protect and lengthen your lower back.  Lift your legs, arms, and head off the mat.
• Keeping your knees straight, lift your right leg and left arm higher, toward the ceiling.  As you lower your right leg and left arm, lift your left leg and right arm up to complete one rep.
• Continue alternating sides in a slow controlled manner, keeping your torso stable.